Phalaenopsis orchid plant named &#39;Freestyler&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Freestyler’ particularly characterized by flowers which are yellow/green with purple stripes and spots; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Freestyler’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Freestyler’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual prdpagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Freestyler’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Freestyler’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2003 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Judy Champion’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Shin Yi Diamond’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Freestyler’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2011 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture (mericloning) was first performed in July, 2011 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar asexually reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Freestyler’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are yellow/green with purple stripes and spots.     -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;     -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using         tissue culture;     -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and     -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Freestyler’, the flowers of the female parent ‘Judy Diamond’ are large and pink with white stripes. The flowers of the male parent ‘Shin Yi Diamond’ are yellow/white with many purple spots and a red labellum. Whereas the flowers of ‘Freestyler’ are yellow/green with purple stripes and spots.

Presently, the commercial cultivar to which ‘Freestyler’ can be meaningfully compared is ‘312929’. The flowers of ‘Freestyler’ are a little larger and has more purple spots and stripes than ‘312929’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Freestyler’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Freestyler’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Freestyler’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flower of ‘Freestyler’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Freestyler’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Freestyler’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Freestyler’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Freestyler’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Freestyler’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Freestyler’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Freestyler’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Freestyler’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrida. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Judy Champion’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Shin Yi Diamond’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm 6             mm wide and greyed/green in color (RHS 190A); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height (from bottom of pot to highest             flower): about 60-70 cm Spread: about 30 cm.         -   Growth habit.—standard; green leaves (RHS 136A and RHS             N137A) and a relatively normal raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 1-2 racemes with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval; the tip is blunt and             asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—none.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 15 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 10 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 2 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS 136A and 137A).             Under side: green (RHS 137A).         -   Leaf base.—acute.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS 139A) under side: green (RHS 137A and RHS 137B). -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower. -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 8.         -   Length.—about 60 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 5 mm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—about 20 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 3 mm.         -   Strength.—strong.         -   Aspect.—upright.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—green (RHS 137B).         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 mm Diameter (at             midpoint): about 13 mm Shape: oval with a bump Color:             yellow/green (RHS 145A) with red/purple (RHS N79C)             Orientation: same as flowers (forward facing).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 1-2             racemes appear with flower buds and flowers. First flowers             can be expected approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a             plant with a leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—no fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of             Phalaenopsis; see FIG. 2 Size (of single bloom): Height:             about 8 cm Diameter: about 85 mm Quantity and arrangement:             three petals and three sepals that are trimerous,             overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are more             pronounced than sepals.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Inner whorl comprises 3 petals: 2             lateral petals and a labellum. 2 lateral petals: Overall             shape: broadly ovate and weakly cupped Apex: oval Margin:             entire and weakly undulate Base: broadly ovate Length: about             40 mm Width: about 40 mm Texture: Upper surface: smooth and             satiny Under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully             opened): upper side: yellow/green (RHS 145D) with purple             stripes/spots (RHS N79A) Under yellow/green (RHS 145D)             Labellum: Overall shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent             callosities at central junction of the lateral lobes and             base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward             about the column; the midlobe extends forward and is             terminated by 2 stubs appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes             of the labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is             triangular with a bump and a rib on it. Margin: entire and             weakly undulate Apex of the midlobe and lateral lobes: oval             Length midlobe: about 18 mm Width midlobe (not flattened):             about 18 mm Length lateral lobe: about 10 mm Width lateral             lobe (not flattened): about 8 mm Depth of tube created by             lateral lobes of labellum: about 18 mm Texture: Upper &             under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened):             Midlobe, upper side: at the base some yellow (RHS 4C) which             runs into purple (RHS N79A and RHS N79C). Under side: white             (RHS NN155B) with at the edges purple (RHS N79A). Lateral             lobes, upper side: Main color is purple (RHS 79A and RHS             79C). At the base white (RHS NN155C) with a haze of yellow             (RHS 4A) and at the edges yellow (RHS 4C). Under side: white             (RHS 155C) . Cirrhi: about 1 mm color: white (RHS NN155B)             Pestle (Callosities): Length: about 8 mm Width (not             flattened): about 5 mm Color: inside red/purple (RHS 59A)             and outside white (RHS NN155B).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals, one             dorsal and two lateral sepals Overall shape: elliptical and             weakly cupped Margin: entire and weakly undulate Length:             about 42 mm Width: about 33 mm Apex: oval; dorsal has a             notch Texture: Upper and under surface: smooth and satiny             Color (when fully opened): Upper side, dorsal: yellow/green             (RHS 145C) which runs into green/white (RHS 157D) with             purple stripes and spots (RHS N79A). Lateral: yellow/green             (RHS 145C) which runs into green/white (RHS 157C and RHS             157D) with purple (RHS N79A) stripes and spots. Under side,             dorsal: yellow/green (RHS 145C) with green/white edges (RHS             157C and RHS 157D). Lateral: yellow/green (RHS 145B and RHS             145C) which runs into green/white (RHS 157C and RHS 157D).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 38 mm Diameter: about 4 mm Texture:             glabrous and smooth Color: At the flower yellow/white (RHS             158C) with green/white (RHS 157C) which runs into green (RHS             143A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 7 mm Diameter: about 3 mm Color:             red/purple (RHS 70A) with white (RHS NN155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two Diameter: about 3 mm Color:             yellow/orange (RHS 23A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm Diameter: about 2 mm Color: white             (RHS NN155D). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Freestyler’, as illustrated and described herein. 